I know designers who religiously collect examples of ampersands. It’s not hard to see what fires them up, a simple ligature that creates one of the most beautiful examples of typesetting. Time and time again you will see almost endless variety of this character.
It is amazing how often we come across this misunderstanding of these two terms. In fact, if I had a pound for every time it happened I’d have somewhere in the region of some more money than I have now…
Understanding form, light, colour, texture, materials, human behavior. Having experience, knowledge, curiosity, imagination, and an uncanny ability to see answers to problems, and the ability to take a chance sometimes—these are some of the attributes of a good designer.
Fabulous Welshcakes were our very first client. We created their branding and then everything since. They have artisan quality Welshcakes to Cardiff in a big way with a traditional Welsh recipe and the highest quality ingredients.
Acuity Law is a dynamic law company, with a modern organisational structure and an agile, fluid team-centric model. Not held back by tradition, they always look to improve their client service and grow their community of lawyers and other professionals.
Andrew Forbes are an established and highly respected chartered surveyor with multiple offices in South Wales, the West, and M4 Corridor. They have a particular eye for detail, keen understanding of customer relationships, and a very personable approach.
One belief we’ve always held close to our heart at Caffeine is that design must not only look good, but primarily it must, no—let’s word that in a stronger term—it absolutely must have… purpose. Without purpose, design becomes art.
I’ve been fascinated by type ever since my childhood friend and I used to cycle our bikes into the art and technical drawing supplies shop (the name escapes me) in Charles Street, Cardiff, to buy sheets of Letraset. Get back home and furiously, but carefully, rub the sheets to create works of art (in our minds that is; though Michael was a gifted artist who sadly passed away well before his time).
When discussion with friends turns to books, when I let people know that I (amongst other genres) enjoy sci-fi novels, I get a certain look. A look that says either ‘grow up’, or ‘start reading proper books’… or just, ‘he’s a graphic designer, what do you expect…’
I’m not usually one for the “Quote”. You know, the deep, meaningful quote about some subject or another that somehow always carries a little too much weight with some individuals and they end up basing their entire life’s philosophy on one or maybe a few of them.